Chapter 16

It was the little square razor that the Congo folk wear tucked away in their hair, and his pleasure was to cut Tambeli’s throat. This Congo man was never seen again—the river was very handy, and Tambeli was very strong—but his razor was found by the river’s edge and it was stained with blood. Tambeli was a rich man, having goats and brass rods and salt in sacks. He had six wives, who tended his gardens and cooked for him, and they were proud of their lord, and gloried in his discreditable exploits. For Tambeli was …